Literary Birthday – 5 January – Tananarive Due

Happy Birthday, Tananarive Due, born 5 January 1966

Quotes

I don’t think there is enough respect in general for the time it takes to write consistently good fiction. Too many people think they will master writing overnight, or that they are as good as they will ever be.

Your past is your shadow. It has form but no substance, except in the places you allow it to touch you.

I believe black characters in fiction are still revolutionary, given our long history of erasure.

One thing I know that’s true about horror fans of any colour is they like to be scared. And the easiest place to be scared is in a new thing.

Somehow, I realised I could write books about black characters who reflected my own experiences or otherworldly experiences – not just stories of history, poverty and oppression.

The great thing about journalism is that there is so much exposure to all kinds of people who can turn up later as characters, whether you intend it or not.

Give yourself permission to write a bad sentence.

Tananarive Due is an American author and educator. She is a novelist and a creative writing teacher who has worked as a journalist. She won the American Book Award in 2002 for her novel The Living Blood.